Millikin University Women's Softball

Sowers joined the Millikin coaching staff in the fall of 2015 serving as an assistant softball coach.   Sowers played collegiate at NCAA Division III softball powerhouse Central College where she was a four year starter and had a .390 career batting average.  She earned All-Conference recognition in all four years.  Sowers helped Central to the NCAA Tournament in 2013.  While at Central, Sowers played for Head Coach George Wares, the winningest coach in NCAA Division III history.   Whitney exemplified what a "team player" is, said Wares.  She demonstrated leadership by her actions. Whether in a game setting or practice Whitney played the game with a passion. The type of player that you wanted the ball hit to for your last out, and the player you wanted at the plate when the game was on the line. That is something I am sure she will pass on to the women she gets the opportunity to coach at Millikin.   Sowers was a member of Centrals Student Athlete Advisory Council and was selected as a representative to the Iowa Womens Leadership Conference in 2014 and the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Leadership Conference in 2013.   Sowers graduated from Central College with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 2015.   Whitney Sowers joined the Millikin coaching staff in the fall of 2015 serving as an assistant softball coach.   Sowers played collegiate at NCAA Division III softball powerhouse Central College where she was a four year starter and had a .390 career batting average.  She earned All-Conference recognition in all four years.  Sowers helped Central to the NCAA Tournament in 2013.  While at Central, Sowers played for Head Coach George Wares, the winningest coach in NCAA Division III history.   Whitney exemplified what a "team player" is, said Wares.  She demonstrated leadership by her actions. Whether in a game setting or practice Whitney played the game with a passion. The type of player that you wanted the ball hit to for your last out, and the player you wanted at the plate when the game was on the line. That is something I am sure she will pass on to the women she gets the opportunity to coach at Millikin.   Sowers was a member of Centrals Student Athlete Advisory Council and was selected as a representative to the Iowa Womens Leadership Conference in 2014 and the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Leadership Conference in 2013.   Sowers graduated from Central College with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 2015.

Tenboer was named the Millikin Head Softball Coach in 2015.          Tenboer was a standout collegiate infielder at NCAA Division III powerhouse Central College in Iowa.  She was named an NFCA All-American in 2010 and 2011 and was the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Position Player of the Year in 2010.                   At Central, Tenboer played under Head Coach George Wares, the all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division III history with over with over 1,000 career victories.  Tenboer started all 176 games in her career helping Central to a 129-47 record winning two conference championships and advancing to the NCAA Tournament three times.  In 2010 Tenboer hit .381 with 40 RBIs and eight homeruns.  As a senior, Tenboer hit a team high .414 with a then school record 48 RBIs, 11 doubles, and seven homeruns leading her team to a conference title and an NCAA Tournament berth.  Tenboer had 159 hits during her time at Central with a .340 career batting average.  She is number two all-time at Central in career homeruns with 21 and career RBIs with 140.              Tenboer coaching experience has been on both the collegiate and youth softball level.  In 2012-13 she served as the Offseason Pitching Coach for Central College and she has worked at Centrals Summer Softball Camps for five seasons.                Tenboer has been a successful head coach for two youth travel teams.  She led the 12U team, the Iowa Adrenaline, in Pella, Iowa and then was the head coach for the nationally recognized 14U Quad City Firebirds where she compiled a 52-15 record and a seventh place National Tournament finish in 2014.               Tenboer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art-Graphic Design at Central College in 2011 where she was a Presidential Scholar.  She is currently completing her Masters of Organizational Leadership in Higher Education at St. Ambrose University.                 Katie Tenboer was named the Millikin Head Softball Coach in 2015.          Tenboer was a standout collegiate infielder at NCAA Division III powerhouse Central College in Iowa.  She was named an NFCA All-American in 2010 and 2011 and was the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Position Player of the Year in 2010.                   At Central, Tenboer played under Head Coach George Wares, the all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division III history with over with over 1,000 career victories.  Tenboer started all 176 games in her career helping Central to a 129-47 record winning two conference championships and advancing to the NCAA Tournament three times.  In 2010 Tenboer hit .381 with 40 RBIs and eight homeruns.  As a senior, Tenboer hit a team high .414 with a then school record 48 RBIs, 11 doubles, and seven homeruns leading her team to a conference title and an NCAA Tournament berth.  Tenboer had 159 hits during her time at Central with a .340 career batting average.  She is number two all-time at Central in career homeruns with 21 and career RBIs with 140.              Tenboer coaching experience has been on both the collegiate and youth softball level.  In 2012-13 she served as the Offseason Pitching Coach for Central College and she has worked at Centrals Summer Softball Camps for five seasons.                Tenboer has been a successful head coach for two youth travel teams.  She led the 12U team, the Iowa Adrenaline, in Pella, Iowa and then was the head coach for the nationally recognized 14U Quad City Firebirds where she compiled a 52-15 record and a seventh place National Tournament finish in 2014.               Tenboer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art-Graphic Design at Central College in 2011 where she was a Presidential Scholar.  She is currently completing her Masters of Organizational Leadership in Higher Education at St. Ambrose University.   

Brian Levin joined the Millikin Athletic Department as the head softball coach in August of 2026.  "My wife, Michelle, and I are very excited about the opportunity for me to take on the role as head softball coach at Millikin," Levin said. "My hope is to build upon the success the previous staff and team produced." Levin brings 13 years of head coaching experience and a 418-220 career record, along with two years of assistant coaching experience most recently at Iowa. He joined the Hawkeyes after a stint as the head coach of Southern Mississippi. In his three years with the Golden Eagles, Levin compiled a 65-62 record with a 29-23 mark in 2022. "We could not be more honored to welcome Brian and Michelle to the Big Blue family," Associate Athletic Director, Katie Tenboer said. "With the principles Brian believes in that align so well with what the program has reflected the last decade, there will be a seamless transition. His knowledge and experience will be an asset not only to the softball program, but to our entire athletic department and campus in a number of ways." Levin took over at Southern Miss after spending three seasons as the head coach at Belmont University. In those three seasons, the team advanced to two OVC Tournaments and posted a 91-70 record. The 91 wins are the most the history of the program over a three-year span. Prior to Belmont, Levin had a six-year run at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. During that time, he led the Tritons to a 249-83 record, including a 150-25 mark his final three seasons. Levin led UMSL to four consecutive NCAA Division II Tournament berths, including consecutive Super Regional appearances in 2014 and 2015, and three straight Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament championships. At UMSL, Levin coached eight All-America honorees, 21 All-Region selections and 37 All-GLVC selections. He was named GLVC Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2015. While at UMSL, he coached Big Blue volunteer assistant coach Martin Stupek's daughter. Under Levin's coaching, Alex Stupek garnered three All-Region honors and an All-American accolade. Levin also spent three seasons as field manager of the Akron Racers of the NPF, where he coached nine All-NPF selections and he was part of the 2014 NPF Coaching Staff of the Year. Levin began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Murray State University. "I am extremely grateful to the department leadership for allowing me this opportunity," Levin said. "Everyone was very welcoming, and I am looking forward to being a part of the Millikin family. The Granite City, Illinois, native founded STAAR hitting mechanics and camps and the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Clarksville Heat Softball Organization in Clarksville, Tennessee. Levin spent 20 years in the military, including 15 stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with the 5th Special Forces Group. Among his responsibilities, Levin organized and trained combat forces. While stationed at Fort Campbell, he was an active volunteer coach for football, baseball and softball at Fort Campbell High School. Levin played collegiate football and baseball at Peru State College where he was a two-time all-conference player. Levin earned All-America placekicker honors in college. He earned a bachelor's degree in industrial technology from Peru State College in 1988 and a master's degree from Northcentral University in sports management and leadership in 2009. Levin earned his doctorate in education specializing in coaching and sport management from National University in 2024. Levin has two children who are former NCAA athletes, Alisha and Matthew. Alisha played softball for Providence College, while Matthew played football at the University of Dubuque.

Martin Stupek joined the Millikin softball staff in 2018 serving as a volunteer assistant coach.  Stupek will be working with the Millikin hitters.   Stupek has significant experience as both a fastpitch softball coach and player.  Stupek served as the head coach at Argenta Oreana High School from 2010-2016.  He has seven years of coaching experience at the travel softball level.  As a player, Stupek starred for seven seasons with the Bloomington Hearts with a career .340 average. He was named to the ASA All-American First Team as an outfielder at the 1988 ASA Men’s Major Softball National Tournament.  He was a First Team selection at the 1989 ISC Men’s Major Softball World Tournament.  Stupek was member of the 1989 Silver Medal winning team at the 1989 Olympic Festival.   Stupek is a member of the Millikin University Athletic Hall of Fame.  He was four-year letter winner in football and track and field for the Big Blue. During his career, he held several kicking and punting average.  He still hold the Big Blue record for punting average in a game at 49 yards. Stupek set a new pole vault record during his track and field career.   Stupek graduated from Millikin in 1983 with a degree in Management of Information Systems.  He retired from State Farm Insurance in 2018.  Martin is married to Nancy Stupek and has two daughters Alexandra and Rachel.